12 Apr Young Art Taipei 2017

The ninth edition of Young Art Taipei, April 14 to 16 2017 at Sheraton Grande Taipei, will be our third participation in this art fair since debuting in 2015. This time around we will be featuring works by two Indonesian and four Malaysian young and emerging visual artists, namely Ajim Juxta, Alexandra Hon, Haris Rashid, Indra Dodi, M. Fadhlil Abdi, and Viko Zhijune.

Provisionally entitled “Multiplicity Unbounded“, the collection of works presented provides a microcosmic snapshot of the richly diverse art found in Southeast Asia, in this case focusing primarily on Indonesia and Malaysia.

Southeast Asia continues to be a geographical area of interest for art enthusiasts the world over. As many already know, there isn’t one distinct style or artistic practice that can completely encapsulate or define art from this region. As a world region, Southeast Asia is extremely diverse, and this is amply reflected in the art that comes out from the various countries situated within. With the fusion of strong tradition and modern world influences, two seemingly opposing forces that coexist and continue to shape the region, the art that emerges is simultaneously relevant universally, yet distinctly identifiable as being from Southeast Asia.

Already within this small survey, a clue of just how vastly diverse art from this region is may be seen. Not including, of course, artistic practices other than 2-D, making Southeast Asia not simply an art bloc with homogeneity, but an area from which the artistic practice is as diverse as can be possibly imagined. Multiplicity Unbounded merely scratches the surface. Barely, even then.

Artemis Art presents recent artworks by six young and emerging artists from Indonesia and Malaysia for our participation in Young Art Taipei (YAT) this year.

Ajim Juxta

Ajim Juxta returns to Young Art Taipei for his second participation in this art fair. Last year, he was selected as one of the three winners for the fair’s annual Young Art Award, for which he earned the opportunity to participate in a residency program in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

This time around, Ajim focuses on smaller works on canvas, expanding on his Arcology series of works. In addition, several mixed media works on paper will also be exhibited, from his Penghuni Distopia (Dwellers of Dystopia) series, an off-shoot from Arcology. This a series of drawings that focus on the possible inhabitants of his imagined arcologies.

Earlier this year, Ajim participated in an exhibition held at Haohaus Gallery in Taipei, with Spanish artist Helí Garcia, another participant in the same residency, in a two-man show.

Alexandra Hon

This marks the first time Alexandra Hon has collaborated with Artemis Art, with Young Art Taipei 2017 being her first ever art fair participation.

We are pleased to present an emerging Malaysian visual artist who makes her art fair debut at this year’s Young Art Taipei, Alexandra Hon.

“The Querent’s Divine Reflection” is a new series of works that makes its maiden appearance at this art fair. Loosely based on the popular Rider-Waite tarot card deck design, the five artworks represent cards I to V of the Major Arcana, without depicting the central figure after whom the cards are named. This, according to the artist, allows for a more “introspective experience of self-reflection” in the tarot reading, as the fortune seeker (the ‘Querent’) sees their own reflection in the card, hence becoming the archetype represented by the individual card.

It is Alexandra’s opinion that this literal ‘self-reflection’, therefore, enables a deeper understanding one’s own circumstances in conjunction with the symbolisms depicted in the cards. ‘The reading’ then becomes more personalized, and hopefully more relevant, in the attempt to seek what fortunes lie ahead along one’s life journey.

Haris Rashid

This marks the second time Haris Rashid’s artworks are featured in Young Art Taipei, after his debut last year.

Using the artist’s own rich family history as a visual backdrop, Haris investigates the hotly debated topic of human migration, one that is of particular relevance today, in three new works on paper that make their debut at this art fair. In addition, we will also present works from the artist’s “Seven Deadly Sins” series.

Artwork Preview

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Indra Dodi

Fresh from a very successful showing at the recent Art Central Hong Kong 2017, emerging visual artist Indra Dodi makes his debut at Young Art Taipei. The collection of works selected are very much characteristic of the style this artist is well-known for.

A natural-born storyteller, just about any event or even conversation may spark an entire series of imageries that eventually find their way onto Indra’s canvas. The selection of works picked for this year’s Young Art Taipei is no exception, each art piece capturing individuals or objects that have piqued the artist’s interest for one reason or another.

Artwork Preview

Click on the thumbnails below to view full image and details

M. Fadhlil Abdi

This marks the first time M. Fadhlil Abdi has collaborated with Artemis Art for an art fair participation.

Hyperrealism is a genre of figurative painting that never ceases to astound the visual senses. Young artist M. Fadhlil Abdi’s portraitures could easily be mistaken for photographs, save for the imperfections the artist purposefully includes in his works.

Originally from Palembang, Fadhlil currently lives and works in Yogyakarta, following the footsteps of many Indonesian artists who choose to remain in Jogja once they complete their studies at the prestigious Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI).

This marks Fadhlil’s first participation in Young Art Taipei, and the first time Artemis Art is featuring his work in an art fair.

Viko Zhijune (吴芷君)

The young introspective Malaysian artist, Viko Zhijune, makes her debut at Young Art Taipei this year. Featured will be her mixed media works, both on canvas and on paper.

Viko’s works are mainly self-examinations and outpouring of life as she observes around her, articulated through the use of thread, paper burns, and thread sewn through canvas. This young artist provides clues of what her thoughts might be through her artwork titles, but prefers to have the viewer interpret the symbology and meaning in her art.

Previously featured in two art fairs in China in 2016, this also marks the first time that Viko is showing her artworks in Taiwan.

Artwork Preview

Click on the thumbnails below to view full image and details

The art fair commenced on Friday, April 14 for the VIP preview and Vernissage, and continued for the next two days over the Easter weekend. Generally, the artworks and artists featured were well received, with our two Indonesian artists doing best among the six.

Although Young Art Taipei focuses on young artists, as part of the Taiwan Art Gallery Association’s efforts to cultivate and encourage young collectors, there were a fair number of more senior collectors who attended. The slide show below provides a glimpse of the art fair. More images from this year’s edition of Young Art Taipei have been uploaded to our Facebook page.

Young Art Taipei has been good for us to promote our younger artists, and will likely be part of our international art fair program for the coming years to come.